The trailer took the internet by storm. Millions upon millions kept adding as hours went by.
And by 24 hours, the trailer hit 32 million views on YouTube.
The twitter trending was #LaLaLand, as excitement for the movie spread rapidly. At the same time, pictures of Lucas and Emma together on the shoot locations started appearing online.
The previously calming rumors about Lucas and Jennifer's relationship sparked again. This time, instead of Taylor, attention focused on Emma Stone.
"These pictures of Lucas and Emma from last year's filming... I've seen them working together on location, and I can't help but feel they have more chemistry than Emma ever had with Andrew. The way they look at each other is something else #LaLaLand #LucasKnight #EmmaStone" one user tweeted.
The comparisons between Lucas and Andrew flooded social media:
"Emma Stone deserves someone who matches her energy and talent. Lucas would've been perfect if he wasn't with Jennifer!"
"Look at how natural Lucas and Emma are together in these behind-the-scenes shots. Andrew who?"
"The way Lucas looks at Emma in that sunset scene... Jennifer Lawrence better watch out 👀"
---
In her residence, Emma had spent the entire morning on promotional calls for La La Land. After the last video conference ended, she finally had time to check social media, curious about the public's reaction to their movie.
She was quite taken aback by how much traction La La Land was getting. The trailer's view count was staggering, and #LaLaLand dominated every entertainment conversation.
'No wonder everyone's scrambling to work with Lucas,' she thought, shaking her head as she scrolled through endless tweets. 'His star power is something else - every project he touches instantly becomes the talk of Hollywood.'
As she read through comments, she noticed a recurring theme - countless users were convinced she and Lucas would make the perfect couple. The studio's marketing strategy had certainly highlighted their on-screen chemistry, but she found it amusing how a single trailer had spawned such passionate fan reactions.
Feeling playful, she drafted a tweet: "@LucasXKnight Sorry to disappoint the shippers, but we're just friends... even if that kiss scene took 47 takes 😉 #LaLaLand"
Her finger hovered over the post button before she pulled back. Even meant as a playful joke, it might come across wrong. Jennifer had been nothing but supportive during filming - the last thing Emma wanted was to fuel unnecessary gossip.
Instead, she finally decided and just posted: "@LucasXKnight Can't wait for everyone to see La La Land! Still can't believe how quickly you picked up those dance numbers while I spent months tripping over my own feet 🎭 #LaLaLand #CityOfStars"
Her tweet immediately exploded with engagement - thousands of likes and retweets within minutes.
To Emma's surprise, Lucas replied to her tweet just a few minutes later:
"@EmmaStone You're selling yourself short. Your dedication during all those rehearsals made the dances what they are. I simply followed your lead 🎹."
Emma laughed at his typically humble response.
She remembered clearly how he'd mastered complex choreography in days while pretending to struggle alongside her months-long battle with the dance numbers.
That was Lucas - always making others feel better about their own progress.
Their exchange further fueled the movie's hype.
Even Emma couldn't help feeling excited to see the final product herself, curious how all their hard work had come together.
***
Meanwhile, on the Mockingjay Part 2 set, Lucas and Jennifer worked through rehearsals with their castmates.
They'd been filming for several days, but the weather wasn't making things easy.
The mountain location's unpredictable conditions kept forcing schedule adjustments - morning shoots delayed by heavy fog, afternoon sessions interrupted by sudden snow squalls.
The production moved swiftly between locations, each new setup bringing fresh challenges. During one of Jennifer's scenes, the extras watched from their assigned positions, including Charles White, a YouTuber who'd signed up out of curiosity about big-budget filmmaking.
What struck Charles most wasn't the massive scale of production or even Jennifer's powerful performance - it was Lucas Knight's unexpected behavior between takes.
While other stars retreated to their trailers, Lucas brought coffee to the extras, engaging them in genuine conversation.
'Never thought I'd be discussing Twitch streaming with Lucas Knight,' Charles thought, still processing their earlier chat. Lucas had actually known about his channel and asked thoughtful questions about content creation.
The conversation felt surreal - here was Hollywood's biggest star, talking about viewer engagement strategies with an extra.
During the scene review, Charles's eyes locked onto a barely visible arm in the background - his arm. It was nothing, really, just a blur in the corner of a massive shot. Yet he couldn't help feeling a ridiculous surge of pride.
He'd be freeze-framing this moment when the movie came out, even if he never admitted it to anyone.
Day after day passed, and Charles was finally ready to leave the production. He had been saying his goodbyes to fellow extras and some crew members. To everyone's amazement, Lucas approached him personally.
"Your Resident Evil 7 streams have been hilarious," Lucas said casually. "Especially your commentary during the Baker family encounters."
"Thanks man. Still weird having you in the viewer count," Charles replied in his characteristic deadpan. "Though I guess Hollywood stars need entertainment too."
"Can't promise I'll always catch them live, but I'll try to drop by chat when I can," Lucas said.
Charles nodded, appreciating how Lucas had stayed genuine throughout his time as an extra. From their first conversation about streaming to now, there'd never been any celebrity pretense. The whole experience of being an extra had been surreal enough - making an actual connection with Lucas Knight just added to the improbability of it all.
***
As weeks passed and the Hunger Games production continued, La La Land hit theaters nationwide and internationally for Valentine's season.
The distributors had prepared for massive turnout, scheduling more screenings than Lucas remembered from his previous life.
The romantic musical resonated perfectly with the Valentine's crowd.
Couples filled theaters, moved by Sebastian and Mia's story. The "City of Stars" sequence particularly captivated audiences, many calling it an instant classic.
Opening day brought in $28 million, easily outperforming other Valentine's releases like "Fifty Shades Darker" and "John Wick: Chapter 2". The combination of romance, music, and the Lucas-Emma pairing proved irresistible to moviegoers seeking the perfect Valentine's date movie.
Time passed, and four days later, the movie earned $119 million at the box office. La La Land garnered widespread critical acclaim, earning an impressive 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics praised its innovative take on classic Hollywood musicals, with The New York Times calling it "a vibrant celebration of hope, dreams, love and music." Rolling Stone hailed it as "a new American classic," while Empire Magazine gave it a perfect five stars.
Yet amid the praise, a vocal minority pushed back against what they saw as excessive hype:
"Am I the only one who thinks #LaLaLand is just okay? Good performances but the story's been done before. The hype machine strikes again," one Twitter user posted.
"Unpopular opinion: La La Land is a mediocre musical hiding behind pretty cinematography and star power. Fight me. #Overrated," another argued.
"Great visuals can't save a predictable plot. Emma and Lucas deserve better material than this nostalgic fluff. #LaLaLand"
Prominent critics like Rex Reed from The Observer particularly took issue with the film, calling it "artificial and contrived," while Armond White criticized its "millennial self-absorption disguised as artistic ambition."
On IMDb, one detailed negative review gained traction:
"1 Star - Style Over Substance
I wanted to love this movie. The trailers promised something magical, but what we got was a hollow exercise in nostalgia. Yes, the cinematography is gorgeous. Yes, Lucas Knight and Emma Stone have chemistry. But strip away the fancy camerawork and what's left? A painfully basic story about two selfish people chasing their dreams in LA - how original."
While many fans dismissed these negative takes as contrarian or missing the point, the criticisms created heated debates across social media platforms.
Some defended the film's intentional blend of fantasy and realism, while others agreed it had been oversold by Hollywood's marketing machine.
Despite the inevitable critics, La La Land's success proved undeniable. The film's momentum only grew stronger - even harsh reviews seemed to fuel public interest rather than diminish it.
Such polarized reception wasn't unusual in Hollywood.
Even giants like Daniel Day Lewis's "There Will Be Blood" and "Lincoln" had their detractors. But box office numbers spoke volumes - La La Land reached $387 million worldwide in just two weeks, exceeding all expectations.
Emma Stone found herself catapulted to new heights of fame. Talk shows clamored for appearances - Jimmy Fallon, Ellen, Stephen Colbert all wanted her. Magazine covers followed: Vogue, Vanity Fair, W Magazine.
Now, she was busier than ever, her popularity skyrocketing with each passing day. More and more people were talking about her, alongside Lucas.
Many of her friends were thrilled for her success, and one of them was Lucas, who was finishing up his work on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.
After weeks of intense filming, they were down to the final scenes.
Jennifer delivered a powerhouse performance for Katniss's last moments on screen. When Francis called the final "Cut!" the entire set erupted in applause. Cast and crew exchanged emotional hugs and heartfelt goodbyes - the end of an era that had changed all their lives.
As the celebration wound down, Lucas's mind already turned to his next challenge: the upcoming concert with Taylor.
They had songs to rehearse and a show to perfect. But first, he joined the wrap party, celebrating one last time with the people who'd become like family over the years.